John Prendergast, Cofounder of Initiative to End Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, to Speak at Pitt April 6

PITTSBURGH-Pitt's Ford Institute for Human Security will welcome John Prendergast to present a free public lecture titled "African Stories of Hope and Why They Matter for Sudan and Congo" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 1700 Posvar Hall, 230 S. Bouquet St., Oakland. Prendergast is the cofounder of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity.

Prendergast will discuss how Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Liberia, Burundi, South Africa, and Angola can serve as models for dealing with crimes against humanity. In recent decades, these countries have successfully emerged from crises and are now committed to building stability, peace, and democracy for themselves, says Prendergast, adding that their success stories offer important lessons on ending crises and building foundations for sustainable peace.

The event is sponsored by Pitt's Ford Institute for Human Security, which promotes effective responses to severe threats faced by civilians as a result of violent conflict. The institute conducts research on the causes and consequences of political violence and works to advance the idea that governments have a sovereign responsibility to protect their people. The institute is a research center within Pitt's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.